In 1972, Harvey Milk, an American politician who became the first openly gay
person to be elected to public office, opened Castro Camera at 575 Castro
Street (in between 18th and 19th Streets) and lived above the store with his
partner.

Harvey Milk was an avid amateur photographer and opened the camera shop with
his then-partner, Scott Smith, using the last $1,000 of their savings. Not only
did they sell cameras and film, but the camera shop also became the center of
the neighborhoods’ growing gay community and headquarters for Milk’s gay
rights campaigning.

Because he was so well known for promoting gay rights, businesses and the
community, Milk became the unofficial "Mayor of Castro Street." Many
people from Milk’s inner circle, including the photographer Daniel Nicoletta,
Milk’s campaign manager Anne Kronenberg and his speechwriter Frank Robinson,
worked at the store with Milk.

After his assassination in 1978, Castro Camera became an art gallery and then
the Human Rights Campaign Store in 2011. The store was recreated as a set for
the movie Milk, a biopic of Milk’s life, and was carefully built to
reflect the original detail including an old red couch and barber's chair. The
set was so good, it drew the attention of many local residents who remembered the original.

If you step outside the store and look up, you’ll see a painting of Harvey
Milk and his motto, "You gotta give ‘em hope!"

Human Rights Campaign Action Center and Store

The Human Rights Campaign Store is not only your one-stop-shop for LGBT and
HRC apparel and gifts, but they’ll be your unofficial tour guides of the
Castro District!

San Francisco has always been a key figure the lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender movement. Whether you're visiting for the San Francisco Pride
Celebration & Parade or the Castro Street Fair, stop by the San Francisco
Human Rights Campaign Store. The San Francisco Store offers a wide spectrum of
merchandise featuring the signature Human Rights Campaign's equality logo. Our
apparel selection includes t-shirt, sweatshirt, jackets and caps. We also offer
a wide variety of merchandise including key chains, lapel pins, bracelets,
necklaces and sterling silver jewelry. In addition to merchandise with HRC’s
signature ‘equal’ logo, the Action Center and Store will also offer items
emblazoned with the words and images of Harvey Milk. 100% of proceeds from the
sale of these items will be donated to local organizations that continue to
carry on the legacy of Harvey Milk.